Hong Kong Watch launches global campaign to support journalists in Hong Kong
Today, Hong Kong Watch is launching its press freedom campaign to support local journalists in Hong Kong. Since the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in June 2020, 18 journalists have been arrested and 3 news publications have been forced to close in the last six months.
The Hong Kong authorities have accused pro-democracy news publications who are independently owned and report the news without fear or favour of distributing “seditious” materials, as they attempt to stamp out any news publications that differ from the Chinese Communist Party’s official line.
RTHK, Hong Kong’s Public Broadcaster, has been reorganised and the former Deputy Secretary of Home Affairs, Patrick Li, was appointed head of broadcasting for the public broadcaster in February 2021. In post he has cancelled news programs critical of the Hong Kong Government, removed online content over a year old, and gave the Hong Kong Chief Executive her own show, leading to mass resignations of journalists.
11 former Apple Daily journalists have been arrested under the National Security Law for “collusion with foreign forces” and await trial with the possibility that they could face upwards to ten years in jail. The Hong Kong Police has confirmed it has a “wanted list” of journalists who they will arrest if they attempt to leave the city. As arrests of journalists continues and pressure from the government escalates, more than 11 media platforms including the prominent StandNews and Citizen News ceased operations and according to Bloomberg Hong Kong civil society has lost 1,585 jobs.
Given Carrie Lam’s announcement of her intention to introduce Article 23 national security legislation and a so- called “fake news” law, the remaining local news publications and journalists stand on the brink.
Responding to the ongoing crackdown on a free press in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Watch as part of its press freedom campaign calls on:
Lawmakers to spotlight Hong Kong journalists currently in jail for the “crime” of reporting the news and call on the Hong Kong Government to release the former Apple Daily and Stand News journalists in police custody awaiting trial.
Like-minded governments to issue emergency travel documents and visas for journalists at risk of arrest as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Like-minded governments to consider punitive measures to pressure the Hong Kong Government to recommit to upholding the Basic Law which guarantees a free press, including targeted Magnitsky sanctions.
Commenting on the launching of Hong Kong Watch’s press freedom campaign, US Senator Pat Toomey, said:
“Between Beijing’s crackdowns on free press, free speech, and the rule of law, it’s clear the Chinese Communist Party completely abrogated its own commitments to Hong Kong. As the world’s leading defender of democratic values and individual liberties, the U.S. must work with our allies to hold those responsible accountable and demand the CCP restore the autonomy Hong Kong was promised.”
Canadian Member of Parliament, Jenny Kwan MP, said:
“The Hong Kong Basic Law is unequivocal in stating that Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication. The government of Hong Kong needs to adhere to its constitution and release the journalists that are being turned into political prisoners."
Hong Kong Watch Patron and the last UK Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten of Barnes, said:
“Dictatorships, from soft authoritarianism to hardline totalitarianism, hate a free press; or to be more precise they are terrified of a free press.
They are frightened of being held to account by public opinion informed by the media which tells the public what is happening. One of Hong Kong's freedoms, guaranteed in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law and cherished by the community, was freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The communist party in Beijing and its Quisling supporters in Hong Kong are intent on dismantling the free press there. They have raided newspaper offices. They have imprisoned journalists. They have frozen the assets of privately owned media outlets. They have done all that they can to prevent journalists telling the people of Hong Kong and the world outside what is happening in this once free city. Anyone who contradicts this should ask the Journalists Association in Hong Kong what is happening or listen to all those organisations around the world which seek to defend free speech.
For Xi Jinping, Carrie Lam and their sidekicks, journalism is apparently the same as subversion. We must all continue to call out this appalling assault on liberty. One day Hong Kong will once again have newspapers and broadcasters who can tell the truth about what is happening without fear of incarceration.”
Member of the European Parliament, Miriam Lexmann MEP, said:
“Independent journalism is a fundamental part of any free society. The destruction of media freedom in Hong Kong highlights the wide scale assault on the city's freedom's by the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR.
I welcome Hong Kong Watch's campaign, which mirrors the latest urgency resolution on the continued violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, in which the European Parliament once again deplored these moves and, among other measures, called for emergency visas for journalists and those responsible to be sanctioned under the EU's Magnitsky Act.”
Former Hong Kong journalist Stephen Vines, said:
“Like all authoritarian regimes the government in Hong Kong is keen to operate without scrutiny and to avoid its excesses being exposed. This is why the once free and largely uninhibited local media has been brought under control delivering yet another body blow to Hong Kong's way of life. And this is also why this campaign is important because the suppression of freedom of expression needs to be documented and laid bare for all to see.”
German Member of Parliament, Frank Schwabe MP, said:
"Questions of human rights are not internal affairs of states, but are protected by international conventions and, in this respect, are also the subject of worldwide publicity. I am concerned to see how the Chinese central government has been intervening massively in Hong Kong at least since the passing of the "National Security Law" and disregarding individual fundamental rights such as freedom of the press and freedom of expression, which are elementary for democracy.
In particular, journalists who are critical of the government and pro-democracy are increasingly threatened with repression and even arrest. We have to speak out. And criticize where it is necessary. Because if we don't do that and simply ignore the situation, the violation of human rights on the ground will only get worse. Human rights must apply to everyone. That's why I support Hong Kong Watch's press freedom campaign. It is good that such campaigns exist. They are essential in the fight for democracy."
Notable cases of journalists targeted by the Hong Kong authorities
Jimmy Lai: Jimmy Lai is an internationally-respected entrepreneur and a leading campaigner for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. He is the founder of Giordano, one of Asia's largest clothing retailers and Next Media, which was the largest listed media company in Hong Kong, which published, among other titles, the Apple Daily, the only Chinese-language mass circulation pro-democracy daily newspaper.
Jimmy Lai, who also holds UK citizenship, was arrested in August 2020 when the Hong Kong police raided Apple Daily, charging him with “colluding with foreign forces” under the National Security Law in December 2020. The prosecution alleges that Mr Lai used the Apple Daily newspaper and his social media platforms, and conspired with Mark Simon, an American citizen, Chan Tsz-wah, a legal assistant, activist Andy Li Yu-hin and Lau Cho-dick, to call for foreign sanctions.
The case was adjourned to 24 February 2022 to give defendants more time to decide their pleas and to allow prosecutors the opportunity to lodge an application for the case to be transferred to the High Court.
Lai has already been convicted three times for peacefully demonstrating in Hong Kong, his most recent being a 13-month sentence for organising and taking part in a vigil in 2020 for victims of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Under the National Security Law, foreign collusion is punishable by a prison term of between three and 10 years, while an offence considered particularly grave carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
On 28 December 2021, the Hong Kong Government introduced a further charge against Jimmy Lai and six other staff members of the defunct pro-democracy publication. The group have been accused by prosecutors of conspiring to “print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display and/or reproduce seditious publications.”
Chan Pui-man: Chan Pui-man, the former associate publisher of Apple Daily was arrested for conspiring to collude with foreign powers. She was arrested several times in 2021: on 16 June 2021, she was arrested along with Next Digital and Apple Daily executives and editors and was accused of conspiring with them to ask foreign countries or external forces “to impose sanctions or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities” against Hong Kong or China.
Chan was released on bail on June 18 after hours of detention. On 21 July, police revoked her bail and she has been held in pre-trial detention at the Tai Lam Centre for Women since then. On 12 October, Chan and other Next Digital executives appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, where their national security cases were adjourned to 28 December. She pleaded not guilty. She faced a new charge of conspiracy to publish seditious publications alongside other Next Digital and Apple Daily executives.
Her next hearing will be on 24 February 2022 at the High Court, where the maximum penality is life behind bars. On 29 December, while she was detained, Chan was arrested on a separate case for being involved in publishing seditious publications for Stand News along with her husband Chung Pui-kuen, who was the editor in chief at Stand News.
Ronson Chan: Ronson Chan Ron Sing was the deputy assignment editor of the now shut down Stand News and is the chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association. On 29 December 2021, Chan was amongst 6 Stand News senior members and board members who were arrested under the Crimes Ordinance for conspiring to publish seditious publications. Alongside the Stand News newsroom, Chan’s house was raided by the police. He was also taken by police for questioning, but released hours later. Chan is currently unemployed, if he fails to find another job within 3 months, he will not be able to serve as the chairman of HKJA.
Choy Yuk-ling: Choy Yuk-ling, also known as Bao Choy, was a video producer who worked at RTHK. She was arrested and charged for violating the Road Traffic Ordinance by giving false statements to obtain vehicle information during research for a documentary on 2 November 2020. Her investigative documentary, “7.21: Who Owns the Truth,” was on the violent mob attacks that took place on 21 July 2019, at the Yuen Long MTR station, and the police’s handling of that incident. The documentary won Hong Kong’s prestigious Kam Yiu-yu Press Freedom Award. On 22 April 2021, Choy was convicted and was fined HK$6000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court.
For other cases of notable journalists targeted by the Hong Kong authorities, please visit our Press Freedom Campaign page.
香港監察全球聲援香港新聞自由運動 前港督、多國議員及著名記者呼籲香港政府釋放新聞工作者
#FreeHKJournalists #釋放香港新聞工作者
今天，香港監察開展一項有關新聞自由的全球運動，以支持香港新聞工作者。國安法在 2020 年 6 月在香港生效，在過去六個月，共有 18 名記者被捕，並有 3 間傳媒機構被迫關閉。
民主派傳媒機構獨立地營運，無畏無懼及不偏不倚地報導新聞，香港政府卻指控他們發佈「煽動性」報導，試圖扼殺所有與中國共產黨官方論述有所不同的傳媒機構。
香港電台進行重組，並在 2021 年 2 月起由前民政事務總署副署長李百全擔任香港電台廣播處長。在上任後，李百全抽起批評香港政府的新聞節目，移除超過一年前發佈的網上媒體材料，並為香港特首開設新節目，導致大批記者辭職。
11 位蘋果日報前記者因國安法下的「勾結外國勢力」罪而被捕，現正等候審判，並面臨最多長達 10 年的監禁。香港警方確認他們有一份記者「通緝名單」，如果名單上的記者試圖離開香港，警方將會拘捕他們。隨著不斷有記者被捕，而且來自政府的壓力升級，超過 11 個新聞平台、包括著名的立場新聞和眾新聞相繼停止營運。根據彭博報導，香港的公民社會已失去了 1,585 個工作職位。
林鄭月娥宣布計劃就基本法第 23 條國安法立法和制定所謂的「假新聞法」，餘下的本地傳媒機構和記者被迫到邊緣。
對於香港的新聞自由不斷被打壓，香港監察開展支持新聞自由的運動，並作出以下的呼籲︰
立法者關注早前因報導新聞而「犯罪」及入獄的香港新聞工作者，並呼籲香港政府釋放被警方拘留候審的前《蘋果日報》和《立場新聞》記者
想法一致的政府為因新聞自由被不斷打壓而面臨被捕風險的記者簽發緊急旅行證件和簽證
想法一致的政府考慮採取懲罰措施，包括實施有針對性的馬格尼茨基制裁，迫使香港政府重新承諾遵守保障新聞自由的《基本法》。
對於香港監察的新聞自由運動，
美國參議員Pat Toomey表示︰
「北京打壓新聞自由、言論自由和法治，很明顯地中國共產黨已完全違反對香港的承諾。作為捍衛民主價值觀和自由的領導者，美國必須與盟友合作，追究打壓自由的人士的責任，並要求中共恢復曾承諾給予香港的自治權。」
加拿大國會議員關慧貞表示︰
「《基本法》訂明香港居民享有言論、新聞和出版自由。香港政府需要遵守憲法，釋放已變成政治犯的記者。」
香港監察贊助人、最後一位港督彭定康表示︰
「由較溫和的威權主義到強硬的極權主義，獨裁者都討厭新聞自由；或者更準確地說，他們害怕新聞自由。
他們害怕媒體向公眾報導局勢後，會被公眾輿論追究責任。言論自由和新聞自由受《中英聯合聲明》和《基本法》保障，社會對這些自由珍而重之。中國共產黨及其在香港的支持者決心要瓦解香港的新聞自由。他們搜查媒體的辦公室、囚禁記者、凍結私營傳媒機構的資產。他們已盡其所能阻止記者向香港市民和世界報導這座曾經自由的城市的現況。任何對此提出異議的人都應該向香港記者協會了解現正發生的事情，或者聆聽世界各地所有竭力捍衛言論自由的組織的闡述。
對於習近平、林鄭月娥和他們的夥伴來說，新聞顯然等同顛覆。我們都必須繼續為這些對自由的攻擊發聲。終有一天，香港會再次擁有無畏無懼地報導事實真相的報紙和廣播機構。」
歐洲議會成員Miriam Lexmann MEP表示︰
「獨立的新聞專業是所有自由社會的基本組成部分。香港的新聞自由被破壞，顯示中國和特區政府正在大規模打壓香港的自由。
我歡迎香港監察的活動，活動反映歐洲議會關於香港持續打壓基本自由的最新緊急決議，歐洲議會在該決議中再次譴責這些舉動、呼籲為記者簽發緊急簽證，以及呼籲對參與打壓自由的人士實施歐盟馬格尼茨基法案的制裁。」
前香港記者Stephen Vines表示︰
「與所有專制政權一樣，香港政府希望在不受監察的情況下工作，並避免其過份的行為被曝光。這就是為什麼曾經自由和基本上不受約束的本地傳媒受到控制，再次沉重地打撃香港的生活方式。這也是為什麼今次的活動很重要，因為對言論自由的打壓需要被記錄下來，並讓所有人都看到。」
德國國會議員Frank Schwabe MP表示︰
「人權問題不是國家的內部事務，而是受到國際公約保障以及受世界關注的議題。我非常關注中國中央政府在《國安法》通過後如何大規模地干預香港的事務，並無視新聞自由和言論自由等基本權利，這些權利是民主的基本要素。
批評政府和支持民主的記者，面對愈來愈嚴厲的打壓、甚至被拘捕。我們必須為此發聲，並在必要時加以譴責，因為如果我們不這樣做、而選擇無視現況，侵犯人權的行為只會變本加厲。人權必須保障每一個人，這就是為什麼我支持香港監察的新聞自由活動。這樣的活動在爭取民主的鬥爭中非常重要。」
被香港政府針對的著名傳媒工作者
黎智英︰黎智英是一位在國際社會被受尊敬的企業家，也是香港民主和人權運動的領袖。他創辦了亞洲其中一間最大的服飾零售公司佐丹奴，以及曾經是香港最大的上市傳媒機構壹傳媒。壹傳媒曾經出版香港唯一一份廣泛發行的民主派中文日報。
擁有英國國籍的黎智英在2020年8月香港警方突擊搜查蘋果日報辦公室時被捕，2020年12月，警方根據國安法控告黎智英「勾結外國勢力」。控方指黎智英利用蘋果日報及他的社交媒體平台，與美國公民Mark Simon、法律助理陳子華、民運人士李宇軒及劉祖迪串謀呼籲外國進行制裁。
案件押後至 2022 年 2 月 24 日審理，讓被告有更多時間準備答辯，以及讓控方有機會申請將案件移交高等法院。
黎智英已因在香港和平示威三度被定罪，最近一次是因組織和參加2020年的六四燭光晚會而被判監禁13個月。根據國安法，勾結外國勢力可被判監禁 3 至 10 年，而被認為特別嚴重的罪行更有機會被判處終身監禁。
2021 年 12 月 28 日，黎智英和另外六位蘋果日報的前員工被香港政府加控「串謀刊印、發布、邀約發售、分發、展示或複製煽動刊物」。
陳沛敏︰陳沛敏是蘋果日報前副社長，因串謀勾結外國勢力被捕。她在2021年多次被捕︰2021年6月16日，她與壹傳媒和蘋果日報高層及編輯被指控串謀呼籲外國或境外勢力對香港或中國「實施制裁或封鎖，或參與其他敵對活動」。
被拘留多個小時後，陳沛敏獲准保釋。7月21日，警方撤回陳沛敏的保釋，自此陳沛敏一直在審前被拘留在大欖女懲教所。10月12日，陳沛敏與其他壹傳媒高層在西九龍裁判法院出席聆訊，他們的國安法案件被押後至12月28日審訊。陳沛敏不認罪。陳沛敏與其他壹傳媒和蘋果日報高層被加控串謀發佈煽動性刊物。
陳沛敏的下一次聆訊將在2022年2月24日在高等法院進行，高等法院的最高刑罰是終身監禁。12月29日，當陳沛敏仍被拘留時，她因另一案件再次被捕。她被指與其丈夫、立場新聞總編輯鍾沛權參與發佈煽動性刊物。
陳朗昇︰陳朗昇是立場新聞前副採訪主任和香港記者協會主席。2021年12月29日，陳朗昇與另外6位立場新聞前高級員工及前董事因《刑事罪行條例》下的「串謀發佈煽動刊物」罪被捕。除了立場新聞的辦公室外，陳朗昇的住所亦被警方搜查。陳朗昇亦被警方問話，但幾個小時後被釋放。陳朗昇現時失業，若他未能在3個月內找到新的工作，將不能繼續擔任香港記者協會主席。
蔡玉玲︰暱稱「阿包」的蔡玉玲曾經在香港電台擔任影片監製。2020年11月2日，蔡玉玲被指在為一套新聞紀錄片進行資料搜集時作出虛假陳述以獲取車輛登記資料而被捕，並被指控違反道路交通條例。蔡玉玲的紀錄片《7.21誰主真相》調查2019年7月21日在元朗西鐵站的暴力襲擊事件，以及警方當時的回應及處理。該紀錄片榮獲香港著名的金堯如新聞自由獎。2021年4月22日，蔡玉玲在西九龍裁判法院被裁定罪名成立，罰款港幣$6,000。
請瀏覽我們的新聞自由運動專頁，閱讀其他被香港政府針對的著名傳媒工作者個案。